Circuit-closer for tank-indicators



II/Il C. SPRANGERS.

CIRCUITICLOSER FOR TANK INDICATORS.

APPLICATION FILED'IIIAR. I4, 1919.

$1,328, 1 1 3. f Patented Nov. 25, 1919,

I /4 Hemi. /4 E5-:6,2 /7

I 'I o i of' 'In' i 7 L I I I /J 1 I I I I If I ,f/ /f I I d4 I I I I I Q I II I I /V I I I f6 I I I I I II I' /Z I I I I I I I I I I 1 I y I I Ii rI I I I I I I5 I I I I y I l" I l I I L I UNITED sTA'swPAf-DENT OFFICE.

IAXCIMILIAAN CORNELIUS SPRANGERS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW lYORK.

CIRCUIT-CLOSER Fon TANK-INDICATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

Application mea March 14.1919. serial no. 282,762.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that l, 1\'l.\xol.\iu.i.\AN (l.y

Aincident; to the premature consumption of I fuel.

The invention consists of a signal which is adapted to be automatically operated by the change of levels ofthe fuel in the supply tank, said signal being adjustable' whereby it may be set to give warning when the tank contains any desired amountcof gasolene or liquid fuel.

The .drawing illustrates ba preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet diti'erent conditions, various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from. the nature of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

In the drawing hereto attached,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a tank indicator embodying the invention, the dotlted lines indicating portions of the fuel tan Fig. 2 is a sectional view indicating the slgnal and circuit in diagram.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawing by like reference characters.

The device comprises a tube or receptacle 1 which is provided in a side witha longitudinal slot 2 and scale graduations at one side of the slot. A hollow fitting 3 is provided at the upper end of the tube or receptacle 1 and may be connected thereto in any manner or form-a part thereof. The litting 3 is exteriorly screw Vthreaded to make connection with the collar 4 of the tank 5. A diaphragm 6 is supported within the fitting 3 upon aninner shoulder and. is re tained in place by the depending portion .to the required position.

of a cap 7 which is .preferably threaded within the upper portion of `the fitting 3. The cap 7 is formed with a filled portion to enable` the same to be firmly gripped when rotating the cap to screw it into or unscrew it from the fitting 3. A rod 8 is disposed within the tube or receptacle 1 and receives a float 9 which is adapted to be secured thereto in any adjusted position by means of a screw 9a which extends through the slot 2 and which in conjunction with the scale graduations admits of the float being set A button 10 is connected with the upper end of the rod 8 and is disposed to engage the underside of the diaphragm 6. A button 11 is disposed above the diaphragm 6 and rests thereon and is adapted to 'be moved upward when the centerportion of the diaphragm 6 is pressed upward, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. The diaphragm 6 occupies a position between the buttons 1() and 11 and so long as the tank contains an amount of fuel in excess 0f thatl required for operating the signal the button 10 will be held elevated sc as to press the center' portion of the diaphragm -6 upwardly and hold the circuit open, but when the level of the fuel in thetank reaches that for which the signal is set the circuit is closed and warning given that the fuel in the tank has reached the low point thereby enabling the operator to replenish the tank and prevent the latter from running dry without the knowledge of the operator.

Within the cap 7 is located two contacts 12 and 13 with which the wires 14 of an electric circuit are electrically connected.

The contact 12 is xed whereas the,v contact 13 is movable being pivoted and having conl v nection with the button 11 so as to be operated thereby when the diaphragm 6 is pressed upward. The circuit 14 includes a battery 15 and a lamp 16 or other type of signal. The lamp 16 may be disposed so as to be under observation at all times and when lighted gives warning of the low condition of the fuel in the tank. A plug 17 to which the lead wires 14 are connected is adapted to be coupledvto the cap 7 in any ordinary way.

The device is adapted to 'be introduced into the tank of a motor vehicle through the filling o ening, the latter being closed by means o the fitting 3 which takes the place of the ordinary cap commonly provided 4for closing the tank. The float 9' is adjusted on the -rod 8 and madesecure by the fastening 9*. When the tank contains suicient fuel to buoyup the float 9, the button 10 is elevated and presses the center of the diaphragm 6 u wardly thereby lifting the button 11 and Iholding the contact- 13 clear of the contact '12, as indicated bythe dotted lines in Fig. 2 whereby the circuit is broken. When the levelof the fuel in' 'the tank reaches a point tov permit the button 10 to `fall away from the diaphragm 6, the latter assuming a normal position admits of thel button 11 lowering and the contact 13 to oorrespondingly move downward and engage.

the contact 12 whereby the circuit 14 is closed and the signal operated to the low lcondition of the fu in the tank.

The foregoing description and the draw-` ing have reference to what may be considy ered the'` preferred, or approved lform of my invention.A It is to be understood that I may make such changes .in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as mayA prove expedient and fall within the scope of the ap ended claims.

. a'vin thus fully described my invention, i.

what I `c aim as new and desire to secure by lvLetters Patent is v l v 1. A circuit closer comprising a tube. a

hollow fitting at the ul per end of the tube,

a cap closing' the clamped between the ttin and ca a Boat controlled element moun in the tting below the diaphragm,a coacting element supported on the diaphragm Aand movable there- `ve warning of 51 tting, a diaphragmv i in presence o two witnessx with and circuit closing contacts 'within the cap, one fixed and the other movable and actuated by the diaphragm through the element supported thereon.

'2. A circuit closer comprising a tube, a hollow member at the upper end of the tube, a diaphragm within the hollow member, an

element mounted in the member below the diaphragm, a float in the tube and connected wit the said element, a` coacting element supported on the diaiillllragm and fixed and movable contacts wit the hollow member above the diaphragm', the movable contact being connected with the element supported upon the diaphragm.- I

3. A circuit closer comprising a tube hava slot in a side thereof, a rod within the 13.,

a float adjustable on the rod, meansv for secu the 'float on the rod in the reuired adjusted position and extending -t rough the slot of the tube, a hollow closing the upper end of the tube, an element loosely mounted in the fitting and connected with the said rod, a cap threaded'tb the tting', a diaphragm clamped between the tting and cap, an element supported on the.l

dia hragm and movablel therewith a fixed conlact within the cap and a movsible contact adapted to be actuated by the diathrough the element supported 

